Licensing of the Press Act 1662

VIII. No Merchant or other Person to print beyond Sea or import English Books, &c.

Penalty.; Aliens not to import or vend Books in any Language printed beyond Sea, (Exception) without special Licence of Archbishop, &c.; Penalty.

And for that printing is and for many yeares hath been an Art & Manufacture of this Kingdom Therefore for the better encouraging thereof and the prevention of divers Libels Pamphlets and Seditious Books printed beyond the Seas in English and thence transported into this Realm Be it further enacted and ordained by the Authority aforesaid That no Merchant Bookseller or other person or persons whatsoever shall imprint or cause to be imprinted beyond the Seas nor shall import or bring nor knowingly assist or consent to the importation or bringing from beyond the Seas into this Realm any English Booke or Books or part of any Booke which is or shall bee or the greater part thereof is or shall be English or of the English Tongue whether the same Booke Books or part of such Book have been here formerly printed or not upon pain of forfeiture of all such English Books so imprinted or imported contrary to the tenour hereof And that no Alien or Forreigner whatsoever shall hereafter bring in or be suffered to vend here within this Realm any Book or Books printed beyond the Seas in any Language whatsoever either by himselfe or his Factor or Factors except such only as bee Free Printers or Stationers of London or such as have been brought up in that Profession without the special License of the Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop of London for the time being or one of them who are hereby authorized to grant Licenses for that purpose upon like pain of forfeiture of all such Books as shall be soe imprinted or vended contrary to the purport and true intent hereof